Naomi Osaka made a statement even before unleashing her famed power during a hard-fought first-round win at Australian Open 2026 on Tuesday.
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In what might have been the most eye-catching outfit ever entering a tennis court, the two-time tournament winner donned a white topped-hat with white umbrella, veil and floor-length gown with a butterfly theme as she stepped onto Rod Laver Arena.
“It’s modelled after a jellyfish,” Osaka, who encountered a butterfly on court on the way to the 2021 title, said post-match. “I’m just so grateful I get to do the things I love. It’s really beautiful.”
Videos and images of the garb are sure to feature on social media and television networks around the world – and for a while.
Much of the ensemble which she designed stayed intact for the coin toss before giving away to a more traditional, mostly turquoise tennis kit, including her customary visor and shoes.
The US-based Japanese star backed up the striking outfit with her play, dispatching an impressive Antonia Ruzic 6-3 3-6 6-4 under the lights. Ruzic led with a break at 4-3 in the decider.
But competing well on centre court at Melbourne Park in her Australian Open debut against a Grand Slam champion no doubt made it a birthday to remember for the now 23-year-old Croatian.
Ruzic shares a similar frame to Grand Slam winner Simona Halep – and game. The world No.65 likes to play front-foot tennis – taking the ball early to author forehands down the line – but counter punches, too.
The latter is needed against Osaka, given all of the 28-year-old’s force.
That power and Osaka’s experience perhaps led to the No.16 seed grabbing a 3-0 advantage, but when Ruzic saved four break points as part of a nine deuce game for 1-3, the entire complexion of the affair changed.
Osaka was immediately broken, ultimately re-establishing her authority for 5-3.
She served out the set to love, tallying 88 per cent points won behind the first serve in the opener.
If an Osaka surge was expected, you could understand why.
Osaka rebounded in 2025, making the semifinals at the US Open – her first second-week showing at a Grand Slam since winning Australian Open 2021.
Yet the opposite happened. Ruzic grabbed a 2-0 lead. Her backhand errors ceased and overall, her winners increased.
Protecting the lead at 5-3, Ruzic trailed 15-40 but saved both break points, the second courtesy of a backhand winner.
At deuce, though, play had to be stopped for several minutes due to a minor court malfunction. When they resumed, Ruzic took her second set point opportunity. While she struck two more winners than unforced errors in the second, Osaka’s errors doubled her winner count.
Osaka left the court for a bathroom break, but Ruzic’s pressure ensued as Osaka had to hold from deuce to start the third.
A lightning Osaka backhand down the line paved the way for a quick break and 2-0 advantage.
Cruising at 40-15 on serve, the momentum shifted again. Ruzic saved a game point with a rasping forehand down the line and got to 1-2 and saved a break point for 2-2.
Ruzic found her way to 3-3 by soaking up Osaka’s power – then delivering a backhand drop shot – before a wayward Osaka backhand handed Ruzic the break for 4-3.
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On the cusp of a maiden top 20 victory, how would Ruzic cope? Osaka took it out of her hands.
Osaka delivered two forehand winners to begin the next game, broke, and duly held to love and quickly for 5-4.
If there was tension in Ruzic, it was understandable. She started the next game by spraying a forehand long with Osaka stranded.
Ruzic’s resistance ultimately ended when Osaka planted another backhand down the line to conclude the two-hour, 22-minute thriller.
Osaka next meets Sorana Cirstea, who won their lone previous duel. But given that it took place at Wimbledon (in qualifying) in 2015, perhaps not much can be read into it.
What will Osaka do for an encore?